The House with a Clock In Its Walls

John Bellairs' novel The House with a Clock In Its Walls has a high reputation in kids literature. That's what I'm told. I never grew up with the novel or its sequels. But I'll know it exists after its film version.

The film is directed by Eli Roth, best known for grizzly horror films such as Hostel and Cabin Fever, and who did this year's ill-received Death Wish remake. His first family friendly film stars Lewis Barnavelt (Owen Vaccaro). Recently orphaned, he's sent to New Zebedee, Michigan in 1955, to live with his uncle Jonathan (Jack Black). Mrs. Zimmerman (Cate Blanchett), Jonathan's neighbor, frequently visits them. One night, Lewis finds out that the house is alive and Jonathan is a Warlock. Lewis begs his uncle to take him on as his apprentice. He does.

The house was owned fellow Warlock Isaac Izard (Kyle MacLachlan), who hid a clock somewhere in its walls before he died. Jonathan suspects it's ticking down to the end of the world. So he, Zimmerman and Lewis have to find it before it's doomsday. Their deadline gets shorter when Lewis accidentally raises Izard from the dead.

The cast is fine. Vaccaro's Lewis is an average kid hero, but he's still likable. Black and Blanchett are good verbal sparring partners and allies. Their zingers are funny, but it's easy to miss the "friendly subtext." MacLachlan's Izard was a capable undead villain. Izard's wife, Selena (Renee Elise Goldsberry) spends most of her time disguised as other characters; her time as herself is too brief. Perhaps the best acting came from Sunny Suljic's Tarby Corrigan, a rotten kid who "befriends" Lewis. Tarby's nice guy act was very convincing.

The technical stars of the film are production desinger Jon Hutman and the visual effects crew. The titular house is spooky and alluring. Its sentient chair and topiary Griffin were great comic relief. Smaller details like the menagerie of clocks adds to the house's appeal. The titular clock is a marvelous CGI creation. The film's use of magic, save for some rough spots, was also great.

But they're not the only ones who excel. Marlene Stewart's colorful costume designs are as appealing as the sets. Zimmerman's purple wardrobe is the highlight of her work. Roger Stoffer's cinematography sets the family horror mood well. The makeup team render some creepy villains in Izard and the demon Azazel. And finally, there's a delightfully spooky score by Nathan Barr.

The House with a Clock In Its Walls is a good preparation for Halloween. Perhaps too good; scenes like Azazel's scene make one question the PG rating. A few silly moments bring on the mood whiplash hard. Its story is somewhat familiar but you'll get invested in it. You won't get lost in this House if you don't know its literary pedigree. At least it doesn't set up a sequel it thinks it'll get.